Improvement in furnaces and processes for manufacturing coke and gas



H. ZAH N.

Processes forMan ufa'cturi n Coke and Gas.

Furnaces and .g

Patented May 12,1874.

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Nrrnn STATES ATEN'r HENRY ZAHN, on Nnvv YORK, N. Y.

, 4:) IMPROVEMENT IN FURNACES AND PROCESSES FOR MANUFACTURING COKE AND GAS.

Y Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 115098089 dated May 12, 1874 5 application tiled September 27, 1873.

rior article of coke produced.

Thus are accomplished the following threefold objects: first, an abatement of dirt 5 second, an increase of heat; and third, a decrease in the consumption of fuel.

This new invention unites in one furnace a fire-chamber with i a coke oven. oven is entirely distinct from what other applicants for patents have called coking-chambers.77 These so-called coking-cha'mbers `can never make coke, for the reason that they arey more orless open,V and are only partially separated from the lire-chamber. My coke-oven Vis capable of being entirely closed, and is ab-l solutely separated from the lire-chamber. Another of the distinguishing excellencies of my coke-oven isV thexarched roof or dome. By

means of this dome the orifice of escape for the smoke, the sublimates, the gases, and thc heat is contracted. This contraction of the oriceboth retards the lescape of the heat andV diminishes its waste. This retardation of heat tends to the greater purity, solidity, uniformity of texture, and general heat-producing powers of the coke. This perfecting effect of time on coke is accounted for on the well-known principles of crystallization. This dome-shaped roof also,on^the equally-familiar principles oi' radiationT concentrates a greater intensity of heat on the coke below, and thus still further adds to its power and perfections as a fuel. The smoke, sublimatcs, and gases which are y freed by the fires of the coke-oven are, by the other appliances which I have incorporated in this furnace, conveyed to, under, and through the grate-bars ofthe fire-chambers. On these grate-bars of the fire-chamber is the coke-fuel,

which was made in the cokeoven, and for the reasons that the fuelproduced in that oven is the most perfect. For these same reasons the This cokewaste products which are freed by the first fire are more thoroughly consumedby the second. When the furnace is applied to smelting processes another' much-desired and longa soughtfor object is attained by this invention and the production of a purer and stronger metal. By the old furnaces, some of the freed products of combustion enter into and depravc its qualities. This source of Weakness is especiallydeplored in the manufacture of iron and steel. The second furnace consumes these elements, and so, of course, saves metals from being debased by them.

All the main features of this invention will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in-which- Figure 1- is a vertical crosssection through the coke-oven and the lire-chamber combined. Fig. 2 is a ,diagram of the same above the grate bars.

At A is shown the cokeoven. They are generallylined with lire-bricks or other blocks molded expressly for such purposes. The shape maybe square at the bottom externally and circular inside, as indicated in the section at A in Fig. 2. When carried up tofthe neeessary height, (according to the purpose for which it is intended,) it is covered with an arched dome of the same nre-clay material. In the center of this dome, as at B, is an opening for the admission lof raw coal to be coked.

This coke-oven is entirely inclosed, as at C, by an outer wall or walls of metal 'or other suitable material. lnor between these walls are constructed ilues or .chambers through which to conduct the waste products of the process of coking; also to convey the air-blast to the fires. These exterior walls serve also as supports to the coke-oven itself, as is shown in Fig. l. These walls serve the further purpose of supporting the working-chamber and nre-grate, as at D, in Fig. l. This purpose,

however,iis not essential. The cokeoven and I uting-chamber, which last improvement is not In some uses of indicated in the drawings. this furnace this intermediate or coke-distribi `uting chamber will be necessary. In other applications it will not. In some instances it will be desirable to introduce into this intermediate chamber a cylindrical or other appliance, by which to discharge into the rechamber a smaller or larger quantity, nicely graduated to the requirements of the occasion. Here, as in many other features of the furnace, each and 'every application will require a specially-modied adaptation.` The coke-oven, when full, comtains several times more coke than, for some purposes, is required to charge the fire-chamber at any one time. This makes the distributingchamber in such cases a necessity, even as to quantity. But different applications of the furnace require not only diii'erent quantities of coke, but different grades as well. The demands of some purposes are met by a thirty-six hour coke, while other purposes vary between this grade all the way up to ninety-six hour coke. This distributing-chamber enables us to nicely adapt both quality and quantity to the various requirements ofthe lire-chamber, and to the different nses towhich the furnace, as a whole, is applied. From this distributing-chamber the coke is conveyed, as I have said, into the {ire-chamber, and in varying quantities, ac-

cordin g to the different uses to which the fnrnace is applied. The aforesaid chute F is pivoted at its lower edge, and is operated by a rack and pinion, as at G. The pinion-shaft is worked by a crank on the outside of the frame, but a toggle-joint, or other appliance which would be equally convenient, may be adapted to it. Underneath the coke-oven there is placed, as at H, an air-chamber, into which air may be forced by a fan or its equivalent,

and at any desired pressure. By means of this fan appliance air may be supplied to the coke-oven through suitable perforations, substantially as represented by the arrows a a, and in greater or less quantities, as may be required in the process of coking. The products of combustion, which escape through the opening B in the top of the coke-oven, will be carried over into the outer chamber L to a iiue at combustion. The fan may be placed at O, or it maybe made to connect at some point with the iiue N. The hotairA blast may be concontrolled by a valve, as at I). This valve is a portion of the partition. It is pivoted in such manner that it may be placed either against oneside or other of kthe flue, or at intermediate points between both sides. By meansy of these various devices the valve may either throw part of the blast into M and N, or nearly all of it into N, and only enough into M to sustain the necessary supply of air in the coke-oven. At It is shown a door or opening in the side of the coke-oven A, which may be `used for cleaning it, and also, when necessary.

for repairs. At S, at the top of the chamber L on the outer wall (J, is an opening through which to supply the coke-oven with coal. The coal is guided down to the opening B by the hopper or funnel at S. This opening at thc top is provided with a cover. Doors may be provided in the air-chamber H belowL the cokeoven for closing it; also for repairs. A damper is shown at T in the ash-pit, under the grate-bars of the nre-chamber. This may be used, when it is desirable, to admit air without the blast from the fan.- Between the nre-chamber and the coke-oven a hollow wall of lire-brick is provided. This serves to pro-- tect the outer wall of the cokeoven; also to heat the cold air for the hot-blast by the fan. The openings in this wall are 'connected with a Hue which leads to the fan or flue M and N at O. The iiues M and N, may be provided with a pipe, as at Y, communicating with a steam generator or boiler, so that a small quantity of moisture may be made'to commingle with the gases from the coke-oven.

In some applications of this invention the whole furnace will be supplied with a system of water-jackets, and which are not indicated in the drawings herewith presented. These water-jackets will serve to absorb still more of the heat which would otherwise escape by radiation. They will provide a supply of hot, water for steam-boilers instead of cold, and they will thus contribute to, save the furnace itself from the self-destroying effects of its own iires.

Having explained the uses and workings of the general devices which make up the .coal saving furnace by referenceto the drawings, I will now proceed to narrate the various processcs and operations in the order of time, beginning with the first act and proceeding in order through the successive steps and stages, down to the last.

The first thing to be done is to kindle a lire in the coke-oven, then charge the oven 'with coal through the funnel at S. In this condi. tion the smoke, the sublimates, and gases are confined within the coke-oven, and they might be kept there until combustion would cease in the coke-oven for want of air. To prevent this extinction of the fire a small supply of air is furnished through the small apertures at a a., by means of a fan or other draft. This will establish a current of air by which to carry off the unconsumedcarbon into theue N, and' thencey onward to andunderneath the grate bars at D. -Here these waste products will be the case may be) is lowered by means of a` crank, and made to form a chute, as at S. Y The bottom of the coke-oven, also by means of a crank," drops down, and the charge of coke, by the force of its own weight, is in a moment transferred from the coke-oven into the intermediate or distributing chamber at D. A duplication of the same appliances, and a repeti tion` of the same means, which transferred the coke from the coke-oven to the intermediate or distributing chamber, will now (with the addition of a'revolving-cylinder or other convenient appliance) deliver the coke in quanti'- ties to' suit lfrom the distributing to the fire chamber. A second charge of coal is now lowered into the coke-oven, while the oven itself is yet glowing hot, and the oven at once proceeds, without any reheating, as in the iirst instance, to manufacture a second supply of coke. Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim 'as new, 'and desire to secure by Letters Patent,isi l. rI`he combination of a coke-oven, in whichthe waste products of combustion are partially or wholly confined, with a working chamber or heating-grate, by means of a flue or lues, which serve to conduct and control the current of these products into the iire of said chamber or grate, and whereby said waste products of the first combustion are utilized.

2.'In combination with Va coke-oven, with devices for confining 'the gases and admitting air in regulated quantities, the perforations in the walls of the coke-oven, by which air is heated with which to supply a hot-air blast,

and by which also the outer walls of the coke oven are preserved from destruction by its own hres. l

3. In combination with a coke-oven, with devices for conning the gases and admitting air in regulated quantities, the system of mechanical contrivances, whereby the coke can readily be transferred from the chamber of production to the chamber of consumption, by the force of its own gravity, by thismeans avoiding the necessity.v of moving and lifting the coke by hand-power into position on the grate-bars of the fire-chamber.

4. In combination witha coke-oven, with devices for confining the gases and admitting air in regulated quantities, an intermediate or distributing chamber, from which coke can be conveyed in varying and graduated quantities according to the will and wishes of the opera tor, 'and according to the requirements of the different uses to which the furnace is applied.

5. In combination with `a coke-oven, with devices for confining the gases and admitting air in regulated quantities, a fan, by which air may be supplied in any desired quantity, to both the coke-oven and the fire-chamber, and which serves also to establish a current bon into the iiues.

6.v In combination with a lcoke-oven, withl devices for confining the gases and admitting 'ing hard and compact coke, consisting in con ning the gases more or less as described, and regulating the admission of air so. as to prolong the'operation of cokin g, as set forth.

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Witnesses:

BOYD ELIOT,

NV. O. WITTER.

with which to carry voff the unconsumed car- 

